Woman Abducted as a Newborn Passes Away at 30 After Battle with Brain Cancer
Abbie Humphries, who made headlines in 1994 as a newborn abducted just three hours after her birth, has died at the age of 30.
Her husband, Karl Sundgren, confirmed in a social media post that she passed away peacefully on Sunday, following a four-year battle with grade four brain cancer.
Humphries was taken as a baby from the maternity ward at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham by a woman posing as a nurse.
The national search that ensued gripped the nation, and she was found 16 days later in Wollaton, Nottingham. She was reunited with her parents, Roger and Karen Humphries, shortly after.
The abductor, Julie Kelley, a 22-year-old former dental nurse, was arrested following a tip-off and later pleaded guilty to the crime.
She was placed on probation for three years and received treatment for a personality disorder. The family later relocated to New Zealand, where Abbie grew up.
Abbie only learned about her dramatic early life at the age of 10 when she stumbled upon newspaper clippings while moving house.
In November 2020, doctors discovered a 5cm brain tumor after Abbie began experiencing severe headaches, shortly after losing her mother to breast cancer.
Despite the hardships, Abbie remained optimistic, once telling The Mail on Sunday: “There is no point feeling angry or blaming anything. We have just had a terrible amount of bad luck. I usually choose to look at the positive side of everything. It makes everyone feel better.”
Her husband paid a heartfelt tribute, describing her as “so strong” and saying her “infectious smile will forever remain in our hearts.”
A celebration of her life is planned for Saturday in Whenuapai, Auckland, to honor her remarkable resilience and spirit.